Lady Eagles split games with East Texas BaptistCLARKSVILLE — Amber Rollins threw a four-hitter and Molly Bowman collected three hits to give the Lady Eagles a split Saturday against No. 13 East Texas Baptist University in American Southwest Conference play. Led by Rollins and Bowman, Ozarks (11-21, 4-16 ASC) took a 5-3 game one win. The Lady Eagles dropped game two 9-0 in five innings. Rollins had a no-hitter through four and two-third innings and Ozarks’ offense recorded eight hits throug...

RHS continues on the right trackThe Cyclones track team isn’t as strong as it has been in the past, according to Russellville track head coach Charlie Goodman. The defending state champion Cyclones placed 16th of 22 teams in the Cyclone Relays held Friday at Cyclone Stadium, and the Lady Cyclones placed 13th of 20 teams. “We’re not as strong as we’ve been in the last two years,” he said. “We’re not nearly as strong, so we’re just trying to get better everyday and show improv...

Cyclones tame GreenwoodThe last time the Russellville Lady Cyclones faced the Greenwood Bulldogs, they lost 11-2, but that was without their star pitcher, Andrea Kindrick. “It was a whole different animal today,” Russellville head coach Harley Sisson said after the game. The Lady Cyclones (10-5, 5-2 6A/7A-Central Conference) defeated the Bulldogs 4-0 in seven innings as Kindrick tossed the shutout.. After holding only a 1-0 lead for the majority of the game, Russell...

Wonder Boys beat NWO in GACJames Sharp went 3-for-4 with two RBI, Drew Stanton went 2-for-4 with five RBI, Zac Johnson added three hits and Jonathan Finnegan turned in a pair of hits as the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (25-13, 12-7 Great American Conference) slugged past Northwestern Oklahoma 10-4 on Friday night at Tech Field. The Wonder Boys opened Saturday’s GAC doubleheader with a 10-9 win. But Northwestern Oklahoma got off to a fast start Friday and jumped ahead 3-0 a...

Apaches survive Sand Lizards 10-9DARDANELLE — The Pottsville Apaches survived a 10-9 game at Merritt Field for the second annual “Boot” game against the Dardanelle Sand Lizards. The rivalry game opened amid festivities designed to raise money for the Boot Campaign, an organization that helps raise money for soldiers returning from service with mental and emotional injuries. Both teams dawned combat boots for warmups, and the coaches for both teams wore the boots throughout th...

Rumble on the River approachesSometimes athletics is about more than scoreboards. Such is the case for the Rumble on the River softball tournament that will hit Russellville at 6 p.m. Friday. The tournament, which saw 60 teams compete last year, is an effort to raise money for Field of Angels. “Last year, I think we funded the whole league with what we gave them.” Kevin Van Es said. “We’re just giving back.” Field of Angels is an organization that strives to conduct, promo...

The Courier’s 2013 Tri-County teamThe 2012-13 Basketball season has been quite a ride. We’ve seen state champions and we’ve seen teams scrape the bottom of their conferences in the Arkansas River Valley. Yet, even on the teams that didn’t fare so well, there have been stand-out performances, victories and triumphs. The Courier’s 2013 Tri-County Team is a dream team of sorts — a collection of the best from all around Pope, Johnson and Yell counties. Imagine coaching this group ...

NCAA Final Four: Michigan downs Syracuse 61-56ATLANTA (AP) — Don’t call these guys the Fab Five. Michigan’s latest group of young stars is determined to leave its own legacy. Attacking Syracuse’s suffocating zone defense in the first half with 3-pointers, crisp passing and a fearless attitude, the Wolverines advanced to the national championship game with a 61-56 victory over the Orange in the Final Four on Saturday night. Michigan (31-7) will be going for its first national title since 1...

NCAA Final Four: Louisville beats Wichita State 72-68ATLANTA (AP) — Louisville’s ugliest win was its biggest one yet. Luke Hancock came off the bench to score 20 points, walk-on Tim Henderson sparked a second-half rally with a pair of monster 3s and Louisville advanced to the NCAA title game Saturday night, escaping with a 72-68 victory over Wichita State. “I just kept telling the guys ... ‘We’re going to make a run. It’s about defense,”’ coach Rick Pitino said. “Give them their credit, but the ...

Cyclones sweep LR HallThe Russellville Cyclones made it a long day for the Little Rock Hall Warriors during Friday’s 6A/7A-Central Conference baseball game. The Cyclones (7-6, 3-3) dominated the Warriors (0-7, 0-4) from the opening pitch until the final out at Hickey Park. The Cyclones set the tone for the evening with a 13-1 win in five innings during the first game. “No matter who you’re playing, you need to play like it’s the last game you’ll ever play,” Russell...

Wonder Boys return to Tech Field for GAC seriesThe Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys baseball team (24-13, 11-7 Great American Conference) will return to action at Tech Field this weekend, hosting a three-game GAC series against conference newcomer Northwestern Oklahoma State (17-16, 6-12 GAC). Today’s game begins at 7 p.m., while Saturday’s doubleheader starts at 1 p.m. The Wonder Boys are looking to get back on the winning track after last weekend’s sweep at Southwestern Oklahoma. After climbing...

Cyclones face three games in two daysSometimes, in the 6A/7A-Central Conference, it’s not how many you beat — it’s which teams you beat. The Russellville Cyclones are sitting at 6-6 overall in their baseball regular season and 2-3 in league, but head coach Matt Long said the Cyclones are right where he’d like them to be, for now. “Of course I’d like a few more wins,” he admitted. “But record wise, we’re sitting pretty good. After 12 games, we’ve won six, and of those losses there...

Lizards, Apaches prepare for charity clashDARDANELLE — The last time the Dardanelle Sand Lizards faced the Pottsville Apaches in 4A-4 Conference baseball, the Apaches came away with a 7-1 victory. When they face off again on Saturday during their annual “Boot” game, both teams expect a much more competitive brawl. “Our guys are definitely ready to play,” Sand Lizards head coach Will McCrotty said. “We don’t take losing really well. When someone beats us like that and we’ve got another...

More Rutgers faculty seek firings in coach case NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — The call from faculty members and politicians to oust top Rutgers University administrators grew louder Thursday, a day after men’s basketball coach Mike Rice was fired for mistreating players, including shoving them and berating them with gay slurs. More than 50 faculty members signed a letter calling for the dismissal of Athletic Director Tim Pernetti and an explanation from President Robert Barchi for why he didn’...

Russellville football to play role in upcoming inspirational filmThe Russellville Cyclones football team will take center stage on April 26 when they step into the role of a 1980s football team on the brink of a state championship in the upcoming film “Cowboys and Jesus”. A modern retelling of the biblical prodigal son, Cowboys and Jesus was written by Otto Thorwarth and Bo Bullock. Thorwarth, who played horse jockey Ronnie Turcotte in Disney’s 2010 movie, Secretariat said he and Bullock co-wrote the origin...

Silva selected for Final Four combineArkansas Tech women’s basketball standout Roselis Silva has been invited to participate in the 2013 Final Four Combine today through Saturday in New Orleans, La. Twenty seven of the nation’s top seniors will have the opportunity to showcase their skills before scouts and coaches from the WNBA and numerous international teams. Silva is currently the only non-Division I player participating in the combine. “I think it’s a very good and deserving...

Cyclones take five to rout PatriotsThe Russellville Cyclones needed just five innings to beat the Little Rock Parkview Patriots 11-1 in 7A/6A-Central Conference baseball on Monday at M.J. Hickey Park. Austin Robinson was the winning pitcher for Russellville (6-6 overall, 2-3 league) and improved to 2-1 this season. He threw four innings, struck out six, walked six, allowed one hit and gave up one unearned run. Tyler Allen relieved Robinson in the fifth and allowed one hit and e...

National Guard to sponsor Cyclone RelaysAccording the Russellville High School head track coach Charlie Goodman, this year’s 58th annual Cyclone Relays on Friday at Cyclone Stadium looks to be bigger and better than ever before, due the Arkansas National Guard’s contributions to this year’s event. “They’re donating a significant amount of money,” Goodman explained. “That’s going to allow us to have a bigger meet. As of right now, we’ve got 25 guy teams and 25 girl teams. That’s a bi...

Golden Suns’ Huie named GAC pitcher of the weekAfter taking wins over Pittsburg State and fifth-ranked Southeastern Oklahoma State, Arkansas Tech Golden Suns sophomore pitcher Victoria Huie of Pottsville was named the Great American Conference pitcher of the week, announced by the league office on Tuesday. Huie pitched a complete game against Pittsburg State on March 27. She allowed just five hits and two earned runs while tossing five strikeouts in the 8-3 victory. Huie moved to 10-9 on t...